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Jim Broadbent has spoken candidly about turning down a prestigious OBE honor from Queen Elizabeth II in 2002. 
As The Independent reports, Broadbent told the Radio Times that he declined an OBE for services to acting – which would have made him an Officer of the Order of the British Empire – around 20 years ago.
"We get treated well all the time," Broadbent said. "Actors who get these awards have all won lots of treats along the way doing what they love doing – they don't need more presents."
He then singled out "the main reason" he decided to decline the OBE by quoting Sir Richard Eyre, the stage and screen director. "Richard Eyre, when asked why he accepted his knighthood, said, ‘Vanity’, and when I'm asked why I turned it down, I say the same," Broadbent explained. "Vanity. Not a good look. Didn't suit me."
In fairness, Broadbent isn't short of acting awards: he has an Oscar, two Golden Globes, and two BAFTAs in his trophy cabinet. He joins a relatively small list of eminent Brits who have spoken publicly about passing on honors.
In 2014, late Bond actress Honor Blackman shared her reasons for declining a CBE award, telling the Daily Mail: "They ring you beforehand to ask if you’d like to accept, and I think they were quite shocked when I declined. But since I’m a republican I thought it would be somewhat hypocritical to pop up to [Buckingham] Palace."
Then in 2020, Welsh actor Michael Sheen revealed that he returned his OBE award so that he could share his views on Wales's historical relationship with the British government without feeling like a "hypocrite."
You can hear more from Broadbent when he appears on The Graham Norton Show this Friday (February 18) on BBC America. He'll be joined by his The Duke co-star, Dame Helen Mirren.
Are you surprised to hear that Jim Broadbent turned down an OBE?